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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07262010 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes July 26, 2010 Volume 38, Page 314 CALL TO ORDER The July 26, 2010 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Willard E. Dunham. OPENING CEREMONY Police Lieutenant Louis Tiner led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Willard E. Dunham presiding and Jean Bardarson Linda Amberg Vanta Shafer Tom Smith Bob Valdatta comprising a quorum of the Council; and Phillip Oates, City Manager Jean Lewis, City Clerk ABSENT — Marianna Keil CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Jim Herbert, spoke of welcoming the adults and students visiting from Obihiro Japan and invited the public to join the feast in their honor at the opening ceremony at the IMS/Rae building tomorrow evening. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Bardarson /Amberg) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda The following was added to the agenda: A discussion of condemnation procedures Memoriam for Chris Eastman Appoint Keith Campbell as liaison coordinator for the WADA September run. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes July 26, 2010 Volume 38, Page 315 Resolution 2010 -065, Accepting A Grant From The State Of Alaska Department Of Corrections Grant Program In The Amount Of $9,785.24 For The Purpose Of Repairing Modular Seating And Bunk Beds In The Seward Community Jail And Appropriating Funds. Resolution 2010 -066, Accepting A Grant For $2,000 From Holland America Line Inc. Community Advisory Board For The Purchase Of A Kit Greenhouse For The Summer Greenhouse Program At The Teen Youth Center. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards A memoriam was read for U. S. Marine Gunnery Sergeant Chris Eastman who was killed on duty in Afghanistan July 18, 2010, and council paused for a moment of silence in his honor. The Officer's and Crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy were welcomed on their patrol break during July 21— 27, 2010. Certificates of Appreciation were given in anticipation of their retirement to Mary Toll, KPB Platting Officer and Jane Gabler, KPB Floodplain Administrator. A proclamation celebrating 20 years was given to American's with Disabilities Act (ADA). A welcome proclamation and introduction of the 2010 Japanese Exchange Students and Adults from Obihiro, Japan. Three girl students were Yuki Okuyama, 16; Fumi Mitamura, 17; and Chihiro Muramatsu, 16; and three adults, Hiroyoshi Nishijima, High school teacher and Tsugio Komazawa, a Junior high teacher who is visiting for the second time with the Adult Citizen Exchange program. International Coordinator Josh Neta also visited as chaperone upon his new position with Obihiro. City Manager's Report, City Manager Phillip Oates stated two purchase orders had been issued to Metco totaling $49,962.59 for tidal surge repairs and hazard mitigation. As a retired military member he also wished to pay tribute to the service of U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Christopher L. Eastman. He wanted it known Mr. Eastman had one of the toughest jobs in the military and his prayers were with the family. Oates noted the Economic Development Assessment recommendations would be coming to the Council in the near future and a town meeting would be tentatively scheduled for September or October with possibly Christi Bell facilitating. Oates stated the Boys & Girls Club of the Kenai Peninsula presented a request for $25,000 in funding from the City. The Administration would prefer using the national model of support primarily based upon corporate sponsorship and fund - raising, rather than government funding. If directed to do so, he would bring forth a resolution appropriating the entire or partial amount. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes July 26, 2010 Volume 38, Page 316 Harbor: The ADEC- Division of Water (storm -water permitting) completed an inspection of him the Seward Marine Industrial Center in early June. They were complimentary of City Staff, recordkeeping, and policies set in place by City Council. He stated 16 vessels at the Seward Marine Industrial Center with unpaid upland storage fees would be impounded and the city had intended to sell those vessels. Oates stated rock placement for the East Harbor Breakwater Extension was scheduled for the first week of September. The US Army Corps of Engineers and the Seward Harbor would be working to get the word out through USCG notice to mariners, newsletters to slip - holders, and radio advertising. Community Development: Thanks to a generous grant provided by the Ocean Alaska Science and Learning Center and cooperation with the Resurrection Bay Conservation Alliance, National Parks Foundation, Seward's Public Works Department, the Alaska Department of Transportation, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Alaska SeaLife Center, AmeriCorps volunteers, and Kenai Fjords National Park, storm drains would be stenciled with the image of a salmon and the phrase "Dump No Waste, Drains to Resurrection Bay" to keep products from being dumped into the environment. Oates noted two additional stops were added at the request of local merchants and riders along the existing Seward Shuttle Route. He hoped to also add a wireless hotspot in the cruise ship terminal with City and cruise ship head tax money. Public Works: The city was notified that FEMA had no funding available for the Lowell Creek Bridge repair project, and the city would continue to look for funding. The Coast Guard relocation project was moving forward including waterline design and storm water relocation with consideration of the Z float project. A contract with M.L. Foster is being drafted for this scope of work and the Public Works Department would be managing the extension and design of the security (Z) float. Mayoral Report, Mayor Willard Dunham stated representatives for the Pratt Museum came to visit. He met with the Friends of Jesse Lee Home, and the Corps of Engineers on the Lowell Creek tunnel. He attended an RDC meeting on renewable energy. Dunham spoke of other upcoming meetings and conferences that he would be attending in the near future. Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations A Presentation Was Given By AML /JIA Kevin Smith. A Presentation Was Given By Jill Simpson Of Seaview Community Center, Re: Seward Prevention Coalition, And Alaska Children's Trust Grant. Council recessed at 8:35 p.m. Council resumed at 8:45 p.m. PUBLIC HEARING ... Resolution 2010 -062, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Amendment To The Lease Agreement 94 -093 With DCS Tower Sub, LLC, As Successor In Interest To McCaw Cellular Communications, Inc For Lot 1, Block 8, Fourth Of July Subdivision, Seward Marine City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes July 26, 2010 Volume 38, Page 317 Industrial Center, For The Purpose Of Extending The Term Of The Lease To June 30, 2015. Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approve Resolution 2010 -062 Oates stated this would be the third and final lease extension allowed with possible options extended to June 2030. The amendment included an annual rent increase and recognized the assignment of Dobson Cellular to its affiliate, DCS Tower Sub, LLC. This lease was consistent with plans and strengthened the Seward Marine Industrial Center (SMIC) area for marine activities. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. No one appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2010 -063, Amending The Garbage Tariff. Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approve Resolution 2010 -063 Oates could not extend the franchise agreement further. It had been ten years and it had to go to the voters in October. Administration wanted to let the people know there was a rate increase before the people voted. A work session was held last week on this issue. This contract would increase customer rates 25 %, reduce revenues by $47,880 based on the contractor assuming responsibility for customer billing, and impose a 3% franchise fee for the use and maintenance of 01J roads and alleyways. The company had huge overhead with the rising cost of fuel and other matters, and had not had a tariff increase since 2004. Refuse rates had been increased in 2002 and 2004. Recycling initiatives would be investigated with equipment upkeep and increases proposed for the future. This would give a one -year agreement for council to decide whether to put out an RFP with this rate increase. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. No one appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed. Amendment (Amberg /Shafer) Change both Section 1 and 2 dates from October 1, 2010 to January 1, 2011 Amendment Passed 4 -2 Yes: Shafer, Bardarson, Smith, Amberg No: Valdatta, Dunham Main Motion Passed Yes: Shafer, Smith, Amberg, Bardarson, Dunham No: Valdatta NEW BUSINESS City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes July 26, 2010 Volume 38, Page 318 Resolution 2010 -064, Approving A Franchise For The Collection And Disposal Of Garbage And Refuse With Alaska Pacific Environmental Services Anchorage, LLC dba Alaska Waste, �.. Subject To Approval By The Voters Of Seward At The October 5, 2010 Regular City Elections. Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approve Resolution 2010 -064 Mayor Dunham passed the gavel to the Vice -Mayor and disclosed a possible conflict since his son worked for this company. He declared there was no financial gain from this. With no objections by Council, Vice -Mayor Bardarson ruled a conflict did not exist. Oates stated that a franchise needed to go to the voters for approval and this proposed contract was for a period of one -year, to provide time for the City and Alaska Waste to address additional issues. Finance Director Kristin Erchinger spoke about an option to extend and that the vote would be mainly for a one -year extension. If voters didn't approve, then an RFP would go out to identify another franchise and a special election would be held within the next year. Smith and Amberg wanted an RFP within the next year. They thought it was a healthy thing to put an RFP out every few years. Valdatta thought there were not enough companies to spend the extra time and money formulating an RFP for refuse. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2010 -067, To Approve In Principle And Adopt With Revisions The Seward /Bear Creek Flood Service Area Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan. Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approve Resolution 2010 -067 Community Development Director Christy Terry said this was the revision to adopt specific changes to the plan for floodplain management and to insure accuracy in areas that were established watersheds within the city limits. She thought the borough hired an excellent hydrologist and commended the efforts of the Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area Board for the quality of this Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan. She went through the changes that were made. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2010 -068, Supporting The Road And Sidewalk Priority Lists That Are To Be Funded Using The Statewide Transportation Improvement Program And Federal Earmark Monies Administered Through ADOT &PF. �,,, Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approve Resolution 2010 -068 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes July 26, 2010 Volume 38, Page 319 Oates stated $2 million dollars was earmarked for road improvement projects. $2.7 million was earmarked for road drainage projects and required a $300,000 match. Public priorities were sari solicited and modified. He said the city must provide a scope of work by September 2010, to secure the funds and a priority list must be adopted and submitted to the Department of Transportation. Valdatta wanted to put pipe in- ground under sidewalks for eventual connection to heat. He thought if the pipe was put in now, it would be there for future use and would give people the opportunity to heat their portions of sidewalks if they desired. Dunham also wanted this looked into. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2010 -069, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into Amendment Number Two With Rise Alaska, LLC (Rise) For Professional Project Management Services Through 65% Design For The New Co- Located Library Museum Facility, Appropriating Additional Funding Not -To- Exceed Forty Nine Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($49,500) And Accepting Grant Funds Totaling $4.7 Million From The State Of Alaska. Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approve Resolution 2010 -069 Oates acknowledged that the state had appropriated $4.7 million to build the Library/Museum facility. This appropriated $49,500 and continued the contract with Rise Alaska for project management services through the 65% design phase, and accepted the grant funds to build the new library/museum facility. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2010 -070, Supporting The Seward Community Library Museum Project, Authorizing The City Manager To Submit A Tier 2 Full Proposal To Rasmuson Foundation Requesting Not More Than $1.5m, And Acknowledging The Intent To Bond In An Amount Not To Exceed $2.5m For The Construction Of The Seward Community Library Museum. Motion (Shafer /Bardarson) Approve Resolution 2010 -070 Oates reminded that the city and the Seward Community Library/Museum Building Committee were working to raise funds to build the new facility. Milestones in the project progress included city purchase of the site, 35% design completion, the hiring of project management, the voter approval for passage of General Obligation (GO) bonds, and the state appropriating $4.7 million dollars for construction. Oates stated the city would request no more than $1.5 million dollars from Rasmuson, and had until August 16, 2010 to submit the proposal. The total estimated cost of the project was still $10.3 million dollars. The increased costs to the general fund to repay bonds and added maintenance costs were estimated at $477,000 annually. To cover these increased costs with a sales tax would require an additional 0.53% annually. To cover this amount with property tax would City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes July 26, 2010 Volume 38, Page 320 require an additional 1.59 mills. Oates said Administration needed to seek a secure revenue source to obtain capital financing for the project and stressed the voters had approved supporting GO bonds up to $5 million dollars. Because of voter approval, and the issue to have a secure funding source to repay any bonds, Oates stated whatever funding source was decided to repay any bonds could not come back as a referendum. Valdatta thought it would have to be a sales tax instead of property tax because it was not fair to have only a handful of owners paying for what everyone used. Amberg reminded that the public had said an emphatic "no" to additional sales tax used to pay for the new facility. Bardarson stated she had an overwhelming group of citizen phone calls that were worried whether the city could afford the $2.5 million dollar bond. She was more comfortable with $1.5 million and urged council to look at the big community need picture. She did not think the community could pay annually for a $2.5 million bond. She thought the city should commit to $1.5 and go up from there. Bardarson was afraid once you put the $2.5 million dollar commitment out there, the city could not go lower, even with the "intent language." Much discussion ensued about whether to drop the dollar amount and how to fund the rest of the facility. The Rules Were Suspended By Unanimous Consent To Ask Questions Of Seward Library Museum Building Committee Members. Judy Andrianoff spoke on behalf of the Library/Museum Building Committee and said the $1.2 million that was raised was not only from the city, but clarified it came from grant opportunities, significant gifts, donations and in -kind services from places like the Foraker Group. The city contribution so far had been the land purchase and a capital campaign plan. Andrianoff directed that the community had overwhelmingly supported bonding up to $5 million in the 2009 municipal election for the Library/Museum and expressed the city council had agreed to the $2.5 million dollar limit at a prior work session. She thought it was important to show Rasmuson what the city's commitment was and felt $2.5 million was the minimum. Madelyn Walker said the intent language, up to $2.5 million, was needed to communicate the city's commitment to complete the project. Motion Passed Yes: Bardarson, Valdatta, Smith, Shafer, Dunham No: Amberg OTHER NEW BUSINESS The Mayor /Council planned travel budget for 2010 was discussed. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes July 26, 2010 Volume 38, Page 321 The work session on land policies and procedures was re- scheduled for Thursday, August .. 5, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Keith Campbell was appointed as the liaison /coordinator for the September events associated with the Jujiro Wada Memorial Association. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required) City Of Seward May Financial Report. Providence Seward Financial Report for May. Copy of Mayor Letter to Obihiro Mayor. Copy of 3 Mayor Letters to Yeosu City Korea. Seward Harbor Write -Off for F/V Taku. CITIZENS' COMMENTS Colleen Kelly, thanked the council for the vote on the library museum. She hoped the theme "Something For Us" was a wish that would actually happen. COUNCILS' COMMENTS - None COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZ - CITIZENS' COMMENTS None ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:28 p.m. iikifk.-/' Jea Lewis, Willard E. Dunham Cit Clerk - Mayor .•...■....•. ••• f s .• O'e +•. �l (City Seal) � : C .. 'co s'. ... 4 t - ---.-- L s SEAL =•i J